Really Dumb Question

[new2fishes]

I finally got a 0 ammonia reading on my 10 gallon tank (I may have already had it cycled once but changed the substrate as well as the filter media and cleaned the filter with tap water )

Anyway so now I am confused about the nitrate/nitrite difference. Nitrite (with the simple api drop test) is dangerous and the goal is for it to be 0 correct?

While with nitrAte (complicated test) it is not as toxic so the levels can be somewhat higher without panicking? How high is too high? Plants help take care of the nitrAte levels somewhat, right?

I have tried looking around but I can't seem to figure out what the levels are supposed to be, more just that, NitrAte is taken out with the routine water changes.

Thanks so much,
Christi

 

[rabbut]

Hi.
Remember that the only dumb question, is the one not asked

Anyway so now I am confused about the nitrate/nitrite difference. Nitrite (with the simple api drop test) is dangerous and the goal is for it to be 0 correct?

That is correct. NitrIte above 0.25ppm is dangerous, so if it is above this, a waterchange is required.

While with nitrAte (complicated test) it is not as toxic so the levels can be somewhat higher without panicking? How high is too high?

Above 50ppm is harmful. Aim to keep them below 25ppm if you have live plants, as higher levels can slow plant growth, unless you are using EI dosing fretilisers.

Plants help take care of the nitrAte levels somewhat, right?

Both right and wrong. Plants take up ammonia is preference to either nitrite or nitrate. This means that less ammonia is beeing processed, thus less nitrate is produced by the filters. Nitrate is only taken up by plants, if there is not sufficent ammonia in the water.

I have tried looking around but I can't seem to figure out what the levels are supposed to be, more just that, NitrAte is taken out with the routine water changes.

Thats correct. Waterchanges are used to dilute nitrate and other toxins within the aquarium, and they are also used to raise the buffering capacity of the tank, and thus maintain its ability to hold a stable pH. There is a thread in the scientific forum, titled pH crashes and their caurses, should you want to read about what I am going on about.

HTH
rabbut

 

[andywg]

Above 50ppm is harmful. Aim to keep them below 25ppm if you have live plants, as higher levels can slow plant growth, unless you are using EI dosing fretilisers.

Actually, the scientific literature (As posted up by Tom Barr not too long ago) points towards 400 to 440 ppm nitrates being the upper boundary of safety.

Many people have nitrates of 40ppm from the tap yet still manage to keep sensitive fish like stingrays.

 

[new2fishes]

Thank you so much! I really do appreciate all the help.

I haven't been paying much attention to pH yet because I wanted to get the ammonia and stuff under control first. I do find all this interesting though, its part of our homeschool and the better I understand it, the better I can explain it to my kids.

Thanks again,
Christi